Campgrounds and RV parks near Lindenhurst, IL

Water activities dominate. There is no charge to launch boats at the park, and there are no horsepower limitations on boats using any of the Chain O' Lakes. Anglers target bluegill, largemouth bass, walleye, crappie, muskie, northern pike, bullhead, catfish, and yellow and white bass. Electric trolling motors only are allowed on boats on Turner Lake, a 44-acre lake in the park. Chain O' Lakes State Park features seven picnic areas and four trail systems, and the Nature's Way hiking trail starts at Oak Grove Picnic Area and is 2 1/4 miles in length. Boat and canoe rentals are available seasonally through the park concessionaire, and Fish Lake Beach adds resort-style amenities including a heated outdoor pool, hot tub, dog park, indoor pickleball court, basketball courts, a softball field, playgrounds, and a full calendar of activities at the Pavilion all season long. Families also use Lindenhurst as a base for Six Flags Great America in Gurnee and the Volo Auto Museum, both a short drive away.

The prime RV season runs late spring through mid-October. Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort's season runs from May 1st through October 15th. Grass Lake Marina and RV Park runs roughly April through October. Summer hours at Chain O' Lakes State Park, April 1 through October 31, are 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., and during the winter the park is open from 8 a.m. until sunset. Summer weekends and the Memorial Day, July 4, and Labor Day holidays fill fastest, especially the Class A electric loops. While the Turner Lake South sites are usually slated for walk-ups on the weekends, many people go early on Thursday or even Wednesday to secure their sites for the weekends. Booking several weeks out is smart for holidays and Saturdays in July and August. Summer hours terminate the last weekend in October when hunting begins and the entire park is closed for hunting. The park is closed for all activities except hunting from the beginning of November through mid-December. Ice skating, snowshoeing, sledding, and ice fishing are popular activities when the temperature drops and the ice thickens, with ice fishing available on the Chain O'Lakes and Turner Lake and a sledding hill at the park office.

Sites vary widely by property. Chain O' Lakes has Class A-Premium areas, Honey Suckle Hollow and Fox Den, with a total of 151 sites, and three Class B-Premium camp areas, Turner Lake South, Prairie View, and Mud Lake East, with a total of 87 sites. The Turner Lake South loop has nice and private sites, in contrast to Honeysuckle Hollow, which is open and row after row of RV sites. Private resorts skew family-oriented. All campsites at Fish Lake Beach feature water, electricity, a fire ring, and a picnic table, and some sites include sewer hookups. The campground is well-equipped for RVers of all types, featuring full hookups with 30- and 50-amp electrical service, water and sewer connections, and pull-through sites that accommodate big rigs. Grass Lake Marina and RV Park is a boater-friendly park with direct access to the Chain. Cell coverage across major carriers is generally strong throughout the area, and grocery stores and fuel are within a short drive of every listed campground.